09/12/2009

Blood Drives
United Blood Services announces new blood drives. The UBS center is at 2523 48th St. To make an appointment, call 797-6804.

Speeches, tours, champagne launch Overton Hotel
All sides of the public-private partnership took an hour Thursday night to celebrate the completion of Lubbock's new Overton Hotel and Convention Center with speeches, tours and a champagne toast.

Hacker pleads guilty to huge theft of card numbers
A computer hacker who was once a federal informant and was a driving force behind one of the largest cases of identity theft in U.S. history pleaded guilty Friday in a deal with prosecutors that will send him to prison for up to 25 years.

Regulators seize construction lender Corus Bank
Federal regulators on Friday said they seized Corus Bancshares Inc., a major Chicago-based lender to condominium, office and hotel projects, adding it to the long list of banks that have succumbed this year to the recession and waves of loan defaults.

Obama to impose tariffs on Chinese tires
President Barack Obama on Friday slapped punitive tariffs on all car and light truck tires entering the United States from China in a decision that could anger the strategically important Asian powerhouse but placate union supporters important to his health care push at home.

Hats Off: Community-minded donors set up fund
to get prescriptions for children in need
Funds established by community-minded donors will be used to purchase prescriptions for children who do not have health insurance. Lubbock Children's Health Clinic recently received a $3,600 grant from the Lubbock Area Foundation to fund pharmacy assistance for unfunded pediatric patients. Donors include the Mrs. Fern Cone Endowment, Roy and Lela Furr Fund, C.R. & Virginia Hutcheson Charitable Fund, Hassel Endowment, Horizon Fund and the Gladys Leftwich Endowment. The clinic is a non-profit organization helping meet the needs of underserved children of Lubbock and the surrounding communities.

Passage of eight years does nothing
to dim the horrific memories of 9/11
It's been eight years since enemies of America's way of life flew two airliners into the World Trade Center towers, crashed a plane in Pennsylvania and smashed into the Pentagon. In some respects, it seems much longer. In other respects, recollections of that day burn as white hot as if it were yesterday.

Quick Opinion
We applaud Lubbock residents for taking time out of their busy schedules Friday to join in ceremonies honoring the spirit of the victims of 9/11 and first responders who rushed in to rescue survivors. We must never forget the horrific deeds of that day and their impact on our national security to this day and for the foreseeable future.

Story Comment of the Day
"I think somebody should ban texting while driving, and I'm not sure it would be a bad idea to ban cell phone usage while driving."

Quick opinion
We think whether he agreed or disagreed with President Obama, Rep. Joe Wilson's shouting "You lie" at the president during his speech to Congress was inexcusable. Although the South Carolina Republican subsequently apologized, his show of disrespect was a no-class act. Shame on him for his lack of civility and decorum.

Threatened species inspire Tech's Red List' exhibit
"Today, in the 21st century, we face an unknown and unseen nature as it is being lost before we discover it and invented before we understand it," said artist Cat Prose. "I believe that the environment is the social issue of our century. Even with all our differences there is one thing we all depend on: the survival of our planet."

Cowboy Symposium attracts crew for film
Dale Evans, who once rode across the Western film screens with legendary honesty and integrity, has attracted a documentary film crew to the National Cowboy Symposium.

Nurses invited to workplace behavior seminar
The Texas Nurses Association District 18 will meet to discuss "Disruptive Behavior in the Workplace" based on a Webinar from the Center for American Nursing. The discussion leader will be Barbara Cherry, a Texas Tech associate professor of leadership studies and member of the TTUHSC School of Nursing.

Dirk West: Beware of Bevo
Texas Tech began its 1973 football season in a good way, with a 29-22 win over Utah and a 41-7 thumping of New Mexico.

Gonzales says country safer since 9/11
Most of us remember where we were and what we were doing at 9:36 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, when the first of four airliners hijacked by al-Qaeda terrorists crashed into New York City's World Trade Center.

Cowboy Symposium kicks off at Civic Center
The National Cowboy Symposium and Celebration began its first full day of activities today at Lubbock Memorial Civic Center with sessions of music and poetry, and cooks set up their wagons in preparation for a National Championship Chuck Wagon Cook-off on Saturday.

Sitton says she was pressured to resign
Former Lubbock mayor and Texas Tech regent Windy Sitton said she finished her last two months on the university's Board of Regents despite pressure from the governor's office to resign.

Tech needs more faculty for funding
New incentives for growing Texas research universities proved "wildly successful," but ambitious schools need big gains in research faculty to help convince legislators to keep up the investment in two years, a key author of the incentives said Thursday.

Levelland rail deal set to lift economy
The city of Levelland sealed the deal for an $8.6 million rail park on Tuesday to compete in smaller markets that wouldn't fit in either Amarillo or Lubbock, economic developers said.

Nation marks 9/11 anniversary with acts of volunteerism
NEW YORK - Philip Hayes was 67 and had been retired from the Fire Department more than 20 years on the morning when he rushed to the burning World Trade Center. His family says he rescued children from a day care and then headed to the south tower, where he died.

Analysts see individuals paying higher premiums
If President Barack Obama gets what he wants in his health care plan - covering all Americans and barring insurers from denying coverage - some analysts say individuals could wind up paying higher premiums.

Americans to serve as well as remember
NEW YORK - Americans planned beach cleanups, packages for soldiers and save-the-tree fundraisers along with familiar remembrances in three cities to mark eight years since the attacks of Sept. 11, the first time the anniversary was named a national day of service.

Wildfire investigators boost ranks in probe
LOS ANGELES - Investigators trying to solve a giant arson wildfire outside Los Angeles have bolstered their ranks in recent days, putting six more homicide detectives on the case as they review dozens of tips from the public about who set the blaze that has ravaged a 250-square-mile stretch of national forest.

Marker honors pilot from Holly crash
CLEAR LAKE, Iowa - A marker now honors the Clear Lake pilot who was flying a plane that crashed in 1959, killing himself and passengers Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson, known as the Big Bopper.

Data reveals poverty rate at new high
WASHINGTON - The government's first broad look at the recession's impact on American households in 2008 showed that the nation's poverty rate jumped to an 11-year high, incomes sank for most every group, and the number of people without health insurance rose to 46.3 million.

Death Notices
Services for Bula Beard of Slaton will be 10 a.m. Saturday in Englunds Chapel. Englunds Funeral Service of Slaton.

Death NoticesEva Joyce Baker, 77, of Hobbs, N.M., died Sept. 10, 2009, at Lakeview Northgate Nursing Home in Carlsbad, N.M. Services will be 10 a.m. Monday at Prairie Haven Memorial Park Cemetery. Chapel of Hope Funeral Home in Hobbs.

Virginia Moss
Virginia Moss, 85, of Olton died on Thursday, September 10, 2009 in Midland. Services will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 12, 2009 at Main Street Church of Christ in Olton with Mr. Mike Reed officiating. Interment will follow at Olton Cemetery under the direction of Ramage Funeral Directors.

Billy Ray Poe
Graveside services for Billy Ray Poe, 77, of Amarillo and formerly of Bandera and Lamb County, will be conducted at 2 p.m. on September 12, 2009 at Littlefield Memorial Park with Reverend Tracy Spencer, pastor of the Follow-Thru Fellowship Church, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Hammons Funeral Home of Littlefield.

Mike Samford, Sr.
Mike Samford, Sr. left this earth on September 8, 2009 and now walks in heaven. He was born December 14, 1950 in Las Cruces, N.M. to Dorothy Purdy and Archie Marvin Samford. He is survived by his kids, Michael and Jessica; grandkids, Carson, Riley, Jordan, and Justess; and his brothers, Skip, Spark, Marvin, and Raymond.

John H. "Jack" Selby, M.D.
John H. "Jack" Selby, M.D., was born on November 11, 1919 in Springfield, Mass. to Howard and Ethel Selby and grew up in Boston. He passed away on September 8, 2009 after a courageous battle with Lou Gehrig's Disease.

John Carlson Smith, Sr.
Mr. John Carlson Smith, Sr., 78, of Lubbock passed away on Sunday, September 6, 2009 at Covenant Medical Center. He was born on November 30, 1930 to Mr. John W. Smith and Ophelia Houff-Smith in Redwater, Texas.

Billy Bob Stalter
Billy Bob Stalter, of Idalou, departed this life on September 7, 2009 at the age of 68 years. He was born on May 5, 1941 to R.W. and Lottie Stalter. Billy moved to Idalou from Lubbock in 1980. He married Virgie Buchan in Lubbock on November 27, 1962. Mr. Stalter was self-employed and was a car dealer.

Edward Hannabas
Edward Hannabas, 82, devoted husband and loving father, passed away on Wednesday, September 9, 2009. Funeral services will be at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 12, 2009 in Moore Funeral Home Chapel. Memorials may be made to Mission Arlington.

Chris Barnes (Memorial)
You left us 5 years ago to be an angel, but not a day goes by that we don't miss you.
Love,
Mom, Tony, Justin, Mema, Bill, family and friends.

Bula Beard
Services for Bula Beard, of Slaton, will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 12, 2009 in Englunds Chapel. Private burial service will follow at Resthaven Cemetery.

Mickey Hensler
Family and friends will gather at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009 at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers to celebrate the life of Mickey Hensler. Mickey went to be with the Lord Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009.

John H. "Jack" Selby, M.D.
John H. "Jack" Selby, M.D., was born on November 11, 1919 in Springfield, Mass. to Howard and Ethel Selby and grew up in Boston. He passed away on September 8, 2009 after a courageous battle with Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Barbara Billings
Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers will host a gathering of family and friends of Barbara Billings from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. tonight at the funeral home in Lubbock. They will celebrate her 68 years of life at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 12, 2009 at Peaceful Gardens Memorial Park in Woodrow, Texas. Barbara Billings died on Wednesday, September 9, 2009.

Clara Mae Gunn
Clara Mae Gunn went to be with the love of her life, husband, George W Gunn on Sept. 5, 2009. She was also reunited with her daughter, Sharon Youngblood.
She was born on a farm in Linn, Kan. to Thomas and Franie Dodd. She was the youngest of seven children.

Scott "Daddy" Hobbs
Scott Hobbs, 38, of Lubbock went home to be with Jesus on September 7, 2009 at UMC.

Mary Myra Caffey Horner
Mary Myra Caffey Horner died on Wednesday, September 9, 2009. Mary was born in Big Sandy, Texas on February 11, 1917. When she was four, Mary's family moved to Seagraves, Texas, where she lived until after her marriage. She married Odis Horner on December 17, 1935. Mary and Odis moved to Denver City, Texas in 1994, where they ranched and farmed until retirement. After her husband's death, Mary moved to Brownfield and then to San Angelo, to be near her children.

DeLores Mitchell
DeLores Mitchell, 73, passed away on September 10, 2009 in Lubbock. She was born on July 28, 1936 in Willow, Okla. to the late Floyd and Lois McBride. DeLores married Bo Mitchell in Big Spring, Texas in 1964. He preceded her in death in 1991.

Rain washes away day at U.S. Open
NEW YORK - Rafael Nadal stepped out of the players' cafeteria at the U.S. Open a little before 3 p.m. Friday and pressed his face against a window, cupping his hands around his eyes as he scanned the soaked tournament grounds.

Steelers edge Titans on Reed's overtime field goal
PITTSBURGH - Jeff Reed kicked a 33-yard field goal with 4:32 gone in overtime and the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers again relied on Ben Roethlisberger's ability to lead clutch scoring drives and beat the Tennessee Titans 13-10 in the NFL season opener Thursday night.

Trinity wins 1-4A opener
Kasey Shaw tallied 23 kills and three blocks Friday night, and the Trinity Christian volleyball team opened TAPPS District 1-4A play with a win at home against Fort Worth Christian.

Oudin pens mega deal
before U.S. Open loss
NEW YORK - So here is what 17-year-old Melanie Oudin of Marietta, Ga., was doing about 20 minutes before heading out to play in the first Grand Slam quarterfinal of her nascent career: affixing her signature to an endorsement contract.

Abernathy 27, Floydada 0
ABERNATHY - A fireworks display was scheduled to culminate Abernathy's homecoming contest against Floydada on Friday night, but the Antelope offense jumped the gun and provided a few explosions of its own.

Jeter passes Gehrig, sets Yankees hits record
NEW YORK - Derek Jeter broke the New York Yankees' hit record held by Lou Gehrig for more than seven decades Friday night. He did it with a single to right field in the third inning.

Abilene Wylie 21, Frenship 7
ABILENE - Frenship didn't score until the last eight seconds in the game to dodge its first shutout since the playoffs in 2006.

FOI birth date battle reaches Texas Supreme Court
AUSTIN (AP) - A fight about whether the birth dates of about 145,000 state workers are public record reached the Texas Supreme Court on Thursday, with a newspaper and the state attorney general pushing for their release.

Prosecution rests in family massacre case
The sole survivor of the 2005 massacre of a Panhandle farming family is haunted by the memory of her mother's screams, her aunt testified Friday in Lubbock during the penalty phase of the trial of the man who has pleaded guilty to capital murder.

Perry sending Rangers to border to prevent violence
HOUSTON - Special teams of Texas Rangers will be deployed to the Texas-Mexico border to deal with increasing violence because the federal government has failed to address growing problems there, Gov. Rick Perry said Thursday.

Del Rio school officials blocking illegal students
DEL RIO (AP) - Mexican children have crossed the border for years to attend public school in Texas, using U.S. addresses to enroll illegally - but this year, school officials in Del Rio plan to kick them out.

U.S. critical of Iran's proposal for talks
WASHINGTON - American officials said Thursday that Iran's latest proposal for talks with the West falls well short of satisfying international demands that it detail its nuclear program.

Pakistan arrests spokesman, four other Swat Taliban leaders
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan arrested the spokesman for the Taliban in the Swat Valley and four other senior commanders, the military said Friday, in the latest of several victories against militants in the country's northwestern region close to Afghanistan.